International hockey to return Pakistan this year, Bajwa

LAHORE: Secretary, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Mohammad Asif Bajwa, expressed the optimism that international hockey will return to country in the current year.“ We are confident of resuming international hockey activities in Pakistan within this year,” he told APP here on Tuesday.He said PHF was in touch with many countries including India to persuade them to visit Pakistan in near future so that international hockey could return to this country which was deprived of staging high profile hockey activities due to security concerns.

“ Our efforts will definitely bear productive results as World Hockey is also supporting us on this issue and with its cooperation and willingness of hockey playing nations we would be able to start international hockey at our own soil “,he said.Bajwa said resumption of Pak-India hockey series or visit of any other hockey team from abroad are two aspects on which PHF is seriously working on.“ The problem we are facing is the tight schedule of every hockey playing country and they have their prior hockey commitments planned for a year but hopefully we will be able to get someone to visit Pakistan,” he said.“ Our first priority is to play in Pakistan as far as Pak-India hockey series is concerned and if it is not possible then we will consider any neutral venue. – APP